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THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
(c) The First Test. Satan appeared probably in the role of an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14), his most subtle manifestation. “ Satisfy your hunger. Your desire Tor bread is natural and legitimate. Show your power as the Son of God. Make bread of stone.” This is the test of His Deity. “ If thou be the Son of God.” This parallels the first attack upon Eve. The appeal is to the lust of the flesh “ Assert your self; use your power.” He was hungry; power was His; but He answers him with the Word of God. He could have answered for Himself, but He answers as a man— the Representative Man—- using the sword of the Spirit, and a message pregnant with meaning. (Deut. 8 :3). “ Humbled thee, suffered thee to hunger, fed thee with manna, that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” How marvelously the Word was applied! Humbled, hungry, He waited upon God for'food. He is the Servant of Jehovah, and a servant does not command but obeys. He will not take Himself out of the will of God. He has power but He will not use it. He multiplied loaves and fishes for others, but will work no sel fish miracle for Himself. He con quered with the unanswerable Word of God. (d) The Second Test. Conveyed to a pinnacle of the temple, again the tempter says, “ If thou be the Son of God.” The appeal now is to His Mes- siahship. Satan quotes Scripture (Psa. 91:11-12), for he is learned in all the wisdom of the ancients and moderns. He omits the words, “ To keep thee in all thy ways,” wresting the Scripture to his own hurt, as do many others. (2 Pet. 3:16). The temptation is “ Prove your own power as the Mes siah ; claim the adherence of the peo ple; make them marvel at your mir acles.” This corresponds to the ap-
(b) Satan Appeared. The lesson will lose its significance if the doc trine of Satan is not clearly under stood. In fact, the whole Bible is a riddle, impossible of solution,, if the personality and power of Satan is not recognized. The names and acts ascribed to him in the Scripture commence (alphabeti cally) with “ Abaddon” and end with “Wicked one.” All sorts of activity are ascribed to him. He talks, walks, fights, oppresses, binds, tempts, etc. His personality is proven by the fol lowing texts: Gen. 3:1; Job 1:6; Luke 10:18; Acts 5:3; 1 Pet. 5:8. . (c) Satan’s Position. He is the ac knowledged ruler of this world; the prince of this world. (John 12:31; 14:30). the king over an organized kingdom, (Matt. 12:24-26) ; the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2 :2 ); a dragon with angels (Rev. 12 :7 ); the god of this world (2 Cor. 4 :4 ). How suggestive are these titles as to the power of this enemy. (d) Satan’s Power. As ruler of the earth and air, and having access into the heavenlies, Satan has power sec ond only to God Himself, and this pow er must be wrested from him by the Man whom God has sent into the world. He walks up and down over thq earth — his kingdom., (Job 1 :7). He stands in the presence of God. (Zech. '3 :1 ). He binds on earth. •(Luke 13:16). He exercises power over man. (Acts 26:18); works with signs and lying wonders. (2 Thess. 2 :9 ); deceives the whole world. (Rev. 12:9). Hu manity is in his grip. He lords it over the children of men. He drives them like a taskmaster, with the forces of air and earth, with demons and fallen angels and wicked men and women un der his sway, to do his bidding. A stranger to mercy, giving no quarter, he is indeed a hard, harsh; cruel tyrant -—the unchangeable foe of God and man.
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